Camping

Many fine campgrounds are found along the banks of the Rogue River near Grants Pass [1]. The privately owned and operated RV campgrounds tend to be more expensive than their public counterparts but offer more amenities like swimming pools, laundries, showers, and other conveniences.

RiverPark RV Resort (2956 Rogue River Hwy., 541/479-0046 or 800/677-8857, www.riverparkrvresort.com [2], $31) boasts a tennis/basketball court, hot showers, laundry facilities, and 700 feet of Rogue River frontage to enjoy.

The four county parks listed below cost $20 for hookup sites, $19 for tent sites. Contact the Josephine County Parks Department (541/474-5285, www.co.josephine.or.us [3]) for additional information; for reservations, call 800/452-5687.

Indian Mary Park

Indian Mary Park is the showcase of Josephine County parks. To get here, go about 8 miles east of Merlin on the Merlin-Galice Road. Located on the banks of the Rogue River, this campground has 89 sites, several with sewer hookups and utilities, as well as showers, flush toilets, and piped water. A boat ramp, beautiful hiking trails, a playground, and one of the best beaches on the Rogue make this one of the most popular county campgrounds on the river.

Griffen Park

Griffen Park is a smaller campground with 24 sites for tents and trailers. To get here, take the Redwood Highway (U.S. 199) to Riverbanks Road, then turn onto Griffen Road and follow it about 5 miles to where it meets the Rogue. The park has a boat ramp, showers, flush toilets, piped water, and RV dumping facilities.

Schroeder Park

Schroeder Park is another full-service campground near town. Located on Schroeder Lane off Redwood Avenue, the park has 31 sites, some with hookups and utilities. Showers, flush toilets, and a boat ramp make this a favorite spot for fishing enthusiasts. In addition to a picnic area and an excellent swimming hole, a rope tied to a huge cottonwood on the opposite bank of the river near the park awaits any swinger who likes to make a big splash.

Whitehorse Park

Whitehorse Park, 6 miles west of Grants Pass on Upper River Road, has 44 campsites, many with hookups and utilities. Showers, piped water, lighting, and good hiking trails are also found here. The river channel shifted away from the park in the wake of the Christmas flood of 1964, but it’s only about 0.5 mile-walk to a fine beach on the Rogue.

Valley of the Rogue State Park

The only state park in the area is the Valley of the Rogue (3792 N. River Rd., Gold Hill, 541/582-1118 or 800/452-5687, www.oregon.gov/oprd/parks [4]). Located about halfway between Medford [5] and Grants Pass [1] off I-5, the park is set along the banks of its namesake river. The Rogue supports year-round salmon and spring steelhead runs.

There are 98 sites for trailers and motor homes ($24), 21 tent sites ($19), and a few yurts ($36), but this place fills up fast, so reservations are recommended during the warmer months. Hookups, utilities, showers, laundry, and some wheelchair-accessible facilities round out the amenities.